Where time bends to nature’s rhythm… where summer days seem endless. A laid-back escape from the constraints of the clock of this typical world, this mesmerizing fishing village has earned the moniker, “the only place in the world without time.” And, it’s one of the most beautiful destinations on Earth.
The world is filled with majestic places to explore, including Norway, where you can find scenic towns that are sure to spark wanderlust.
The Northern Lights here are insane… the midnight sun is mesmerizing, the fjords are impossibly dramatic, and the mountains and glaciers are gorgeous, not to mention its rich Viking culture. Ah, Scandinavia is surreal!
These are just some of the most beautiful places on Earth that you wouldn’t believe are real.
But how do you feel about endless summers? When the sun doesn’t set, the usual schedules vanish. Here’s why “the only place in the world without time” warrants a visit!
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Sommarøy, “The Only Place In The World Without Time”
It’s an old fishing village and is one of the most beautiful destinations on Earth
In addition to the enchanting Northern Lights, Norway is also known for the Midnight Sun, another natural phenomenon in which the sun is visible 24 hours a day. It’s common mostly in places near the Arctic Circle, like the beautiful, small fishing village of Sommarøy.
Located north of the Arctic Circle, Sommarøy, meaning “Summer Island,” somehow lives by the Midnight Sun’s endless glow. It just doesn’t set for a full 69 days—from May 18 to July 26 every year.
It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world where you can get breathtaking photos of its white-sand beaches reminiscent of the Riviera, the colorful homes and fishing boats, the iconic Sommarøy Bridge, the Arctic scenery, beautiful wildlife, the Midnight Sun over the ocean, and simply its vibrant local life.
In Sommarøy, residents seem to just “do what they want—when they want” simply because the sun doesn’t set for a full 69 days, and it doesn’t rise either from November to January, when the local polar nights occur.
“It’s constant daylight. If you want to paint your house at [2 A.M.]it’s OK. If we want to cut the grass at “midnight,” we will. If we want to take a swim at 4 [A.M.]we will.”
— Kjell Ove Hveding, Head of the campaign for a time-free zone
Sommarøy is a Small Fishing Village North of the Arctic Circle
Home to only a little over 300 people, Sommarøy or Sommerøya covers the islands of Store Sommarøya and part of Hillesøya, as well as some small surrounding islands in the western part of Norway’s Tromsø Municipality in Troms County.
The original settlement was in Hillesøya, but the main center of the village was moved to Store Sommarøya in the 1900s when the old Hillesøy Church was relocated to the neighboring Brensholmen on the island of Kvaløya.
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Population: |
304 |
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Location: |
Northern Norway (north of the Arctic Circle) |
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Coordinates: |
69.6336°N 18.0073°E |
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Sommarøy Boasts Amazing Things To Do
It might be small, but it’s an unforgettable experience
Sommarøy’s economy depends on fishing and tourism. Although it’s a small village, it does offer remarkable things to do for those who have a penchant for beaches, fishing, hiking, wildlife, and all things Mother Earth has to offer.
It has some of the best natural attractions to see in Norway—the Midnight Sun, the Aurora Borealisthe surrounding smaller islands, white-sand beaches, and the Arctic scenery.
Experience the Midnight Sun in the Summer
In the summer, Sommarøy shines for 69 days—from May 18 to July 26, when the sun never sets… that all. Here, you can enjoy what the locals enjoy in summertime.
You can walk on the white-sand beaches, like Grøtfjord, Sandvika, and Otervika—swim (if the cold doesn’t bother you), and relax to soak in the beauty of Sommarøy. When the weather gets a little bit colder, you can choose to dip in saunas and jacuzzis in the village, still with gorgeous Arctic scenery.
Due to its location in the Arctic Circle, the weather in Sommarøy rarely gets very warm despite the sun’s refusal to set. Average temperatures are between 46°F and 59°F. However, it’s a perfect time for strolls and relaxation on the beach.
You can also go kayaking along the coast, hike the village’s rugged landscapes, visit the nearby smaller islands, go fishing, and go on an adventurous RiB-boat excursion.
When it’s time for you to snuggle in a comfy bed, you can stay at Sommarøy Arctic Hotel, which offers beautifully curated guest rooms, seaside cabins, apartments, and fisherman’s cottages. A jacuzzi, sauna, a seaside bathhouse, a fishing spot, and splendid views are just among the amenities to enjoy at the hotel.
If camping is up your speed, Sommarøy Camping & Marina is yours for the taking! Pitch your tent or van along the water. You’ll have access to restrooms, coin-operated showers, a small kitchen, and a marina, where visitors arriving by boat can dock.
There are other hotels, cabins, and lodges outside Sommarøy.
Of course, photography is not to be missed! Don’t forget to take a snap of the iconic Sommarøy Bridge, a 1,713-foot cantilever bridge, which is unusually filled with watches… yes, visitors’ watches.
They would leave it there upon entering the village to be freed from the tyranny of time and just enjoy the moment on this tiny Norwegian island. The bridge connects the islands of Kvaløya and Sommarøya from the mainland in Tromsø Municipality.
Chase the Northern Lights in Winter
Of course, the Aurora Borealis is a no-brainer when it comes to Norway, with the best tours to take for the ultimate Norwegian adventure. This is what makes the town of Tromsø so famous, not to mention that it has the beautiful village of Sommarøy.
But Sommarøy is extraordinary! Apart from the Midnight Sun that keeps the island bathed in daylight, the village is completely in darkness from November to January, when the long polar nights occur, which is also the perfect time to chase the Northern Lights.
Sommarøy’s remote location makes it far from light pollution, which causes the Northern Lights to dance at any time of day or “night” in the village in the winter months, particularly during the local polar nights.
Enjoy the Aurora Borealis dancing in the night skies. Its reflection in the water is even more magical. It’s one of the unmissable scenic tourist attractions in Norway!
Apart from the Northern Lights, you can also go on a sea safari to see Sommarøy’s dramatic wildlife, like seals, whales, puffins, sea eagles, and many more. You can also enjoy fjord tours in Sommarøy and Kvaløya, where you’ll cross three beautiful fjords and drive across the Kattfjordeidet Valley.
If you want to explore more outside Sommarøy, the areas surrounding it, particularly in Tromsø, have so many remarkable things to do whatever tickles your fancy—from dog sledding, snowshoe hill hiking, and many more.
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Best Things To Do: |
Relaxing or walking on the beach, sea safari, fishing, kayaking, hiking, swimming, watching the Northern Lights, island hopping, photography, camping |
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Where to Stay: |
Sommarøy Arctic Hotel, Sommarøy Camping & Marina |
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Midnight Sun Season: |
May 18 to July 26 (the sun never sets) |
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Polar Nights: |
November to January (the sun doesn’t rise) |
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Sommarøy’s Free-Time Zone Was Only A Publicity Stunt
It was an “effort” to promote tourism
In Sommarøy, life flows with the tides—where time is disregarded. In 2019, Norway’s state-funded Innovation Norway did a marketing campaign with Visit Norway that worked so well it was picked up by many publications, like CNN, The Guardians, The Independent, The New York Times, and many more.
“There’s [constant] daylight, and we act accordingly. In the middle of the night, which city folk might call ‘2 AM,’ you can spot children playing soccer, people painting their houses or mowing their lawns, and teens going for a swim.”
— Kjell Ove Hveding, Head of the campaign for a time-free zone and a resident of Sommarøy
The news made headlines—because how fascinating is it that you want to abolish the time zone completely? While it was a real-life campaign that the residents did a few years ago, it turned out to be somehow overdone by the tourism agency.
Innovation Norway reportedly spent only around US $60,000 on the marketing campaign, but it reached more than 1.2 billion people and received widespread media coverage of over 1650 articles with an estimated value of US$11.4 million.
It was an achievement, although it was more about promoting Sommarøy’s tourism. It was partially true. The residents had a town hall meeting to sign a petition in an attempt to be the world’s first free-time zone.
“We apologize as we should have been [clearer] from the start about the role of the agency. However, the initiative is real and came from the islanders themselves, and their time-free way of living is real.”
— Marianne Mork, former head of business communications for Visit Norway, told CNN
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Sommarøy, the “Summer Island,” where time has no significance, is indeed one of the most beautiful destinations on Earth to appreciate Mother Nature’s timeless charm. From the white-sand beaches, rugged landscapes, and the Arctic scenery, it’s “the only place in the world without time”—where you can have coffee even at 2:00 AM or go to bed only when you’re tired!